Dishwashing machine



June 26, 1962 H. F. LYMAN 3,040,874

DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M 42m 4f////'fii/// INVENTOR HOMER F. LYMAN fiYg ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 H. F.LYMAN DISHWASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 1, 1959 INVENTOR.HIJMER l'. LYMAN ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 H. F. LYMAN DISHWASHING MACHINE5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 1, 1959 HDMER F. LYMAN INVENTOR.

ATTEIRNEY m AF June 26, 1962 H. F. LYMAN DISHWASHING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 1, 1959 INVENTOR H E] M E R F. LY MANATTORNEY June 26, 1962 H. F. LYMAN 3,040,874

DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m8 INVENTOR HUMER E LYMAN ATTORNEY 3,040,374 DHSHWASHIN G MACHINE Homer F. Lyman, 44Windsor Place, Nutley 10, NJ. Filed Sept. 1, 1959, Ser. No. 837,41& 6Claims. (CL 1S-1S1) This invention relates to dishwashing apparatus andmore particularly to dishwashing machines in which dishes are conveyedby means of an endless conveyor through a dishcleaning chamber.

The present invention provides a dishwashing machine having a horizontaltable and a dishcleaning compartment. A horizontal endless conveyor loopis movably mounted in relationship to the table and the dishcleaningcompartment and is constructed and arranged to receive a plurality ofdish carriers and move them from the table, through the dishcleaningcompartment and thereafter return them to the table. The conveyor loopof the present invention comprises a plurality of adjacent, horizontallyspaced, vertically extending dish-carrier mounting pins, a plurality ofhorizontally extending, elongated upper plates arranged rectilinearlywith the opposite ends thereof in lapping relationship with the adjacentends of the next adjacent top plates, and a plurality of horizontallyextending lower plates arranged rectilinearly with the opposite endsthereof in lapping relationship with the adjacent ends of the nextadjacent lower plates, the upper and lower plates being disposed invertically spaced horizontal planes. The upper plates and the lowerplates are pivotally mounted adjacent at the lapping ends thereof onsaid mounting pins and thereby are connected together to form an endlessconveyor loop. Cylindricallyshaped spacing means are rotatably mountedon said pins to maintain the upper and lower plates in spacedrelationship to one another and to revolubly engage a guideway in whichthe conveyor loop moves. The mounting pins project upwardly beyond theupper plates to receive the mounting member of a dish-carrier, saidmounting member having apertures therein of such size and so spacedapart as to removably engage the upwardly projecting portion of adjacentmounting pins.

The invention will be understood from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a partthereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a dishwashing machine embodying thepresent invention and taken on the line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the endless conveyor loop shown inFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 1 andshowing a dish-carrier mounted on the endless conveyor loop;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FiG. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view of the conveyor looptensioning device as shown at the right of FIG. 1

FIG. 10 is a plan View taken on the line 16-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the side of the illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 9, and

3,040,874 Patented June 26, 1962 FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken onthe line 12-12 of F IG. 9.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings (FIGS. 1 and 2) the reference numeral 20designates .a horizontal table having an upper flat surface 21, oppositeupwardly extending longitudinal side edges 22 and 23 and oppositeupwardly extending end edges 24 and 25. Drainage from the table flowsthrough downpipes 26 and 27. The table is supported on a plurality oflegs 28.

A dishcleaning compartment 29' comprising, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, adishwashing section 30 and a dishrinsing section 31 is disposed at oneside of table 2%. The sections 30 and 31 are in tandem or in continuityrectilinearly. Dishcleaning compartment 29 has an upper casing or hood32 with an entrance end 33 in spaced relationship to the end edge 25 ofthe table and an exit end 34 in spaced relationship to end edge 26 ofthe table 2 The compartment 29 extends transversely of the table 2% fromthe side edge 23 thereof to a point short of the center thereof andlongitudinally thereof short of the opposite ends of the table so thatthere are open end areas 35 and 36 at opposite ends of the table and anopen longitudinally extending side area 37 on the table surface.

The dishwashing and dishrinsing sections 30 and 31 of dishcleaningcompartment 29 are conventional. The upper part of dishwashing section30 has therein conventional spraying apparatus (not shown) by means ofwhich sprays of washing liquid under pressure are directed onto dishesto be washed after the dishes are conveyed through entrance 33 ofsection 30 as will hereinafter be described. After the liquid passesover the dishes, it is recirculated by pumping it from a tank portion 30of section 30 through an outlet pipe 38 by a pump 39 driven by a motor Mand returned under pressure to spray devices in the upper part ofsection 30 through pipes 46 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Likewise, upper part ofdishrinsing section 31 has therein conventional spraying apparatusthrough which sprays of rinsing liquid under pressure are directed ontodishes to be rinsed as the dishes are conveyed from dishwashing section30 through dishrinsing section 31 toward exit 34, as will hereinafterfully he described. Rinsing liquid which has been used for rinsing thedishes passes downwa dly into a tank portion 31' of rinsing section 31whence it is recirculated under pressure to the rinse spraying apparatusby pump 42, driven by motor M, through outlet pipe 41 and pipe 43 (FIGS.1 and 2). L-shaped track members 15 and 16 (FIGS. 2) extend throughcompartments 30 and 31 from entrance 33 to exit 34 at the level ofsurface 21 of the table along which tracks dishes to be cleaned areconveyed, as will hereinafter be described.

Endless conveyor loop 44 of the present invention is arranged invertically spaced relationship with the surface 21 of table 20intermediate the opposite side edges 22 and 23 of table 20 (FIG. 2) sothat the opposite longitudinal legs 45 and 46 of loop 44 aresubstantially parallel to edges 22 and 23 respectively and the oppositeends'of the loop 44 are in spaced relationship with opposite end edges24 and 25 of table 2!), leg 46 of the loop passing through dishcleaningcompartment 29 along and in laterally spaced relationship to the innerside of said compartment while leg 45 of loop 44 travels substantiallyparallel to leg 46 but outwardly of compartment 29 and through side area37 of table 20 laterally adjacent said compartment.

Loop 4 is driven by sprocket wheel 47 at one end thereof and is locatedin spaced relationship with end edge 25 of table 20 and adjacententrance 33 of compartment 2% (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). Wheel 47 has teethrelationship with one another. wardly projecting portion 59 at one endthereof cham- 48 that engage loop 44 in driving relationship. Sprocketwheel 47 is fixedly mounted on vertical drive shaft 49 which is drivenby a motor 50 through a slip clutch 51 and gear reducer 52. Drive shaft49 is rotatably mounted against vertical and longitudinal movement inmounting 53 on table 20 (FIG. 1).

At the opposite end thereof, loop 44 engages sprocket wheel 54 havingteeth 55 which engage the loop. Sprocket wheel 54 is fixedly mounted onshaft 56 which, in turn, is mounted in a tensioning device 57,hereinafter fully described, which tensioning device is adapted to exertan adjustable longitudinal force on the loop so as to retain the desiredtightness thereon.

Conveyor loop 44 comprises a plurality of dishtray mounting pins 58(FIGS. 3, 4 and which extend vertically and are spaced equi-distant toand in rectilinear The pins have an upfered at 59' and a semi-roundedhead 60 at the opposite end. A plurality of horizontally extending,elongated upper plates 61 are arranged rectilinearly of one another, theopposite ends of each of the plates 61 lapping the adjacent ends of thenext adjacent plates 61 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Each of the plates 61 arepivotally mounted at their lapping end portions on a pin 58. A pluralityof horizontally extending, elongated lower plates 62, are arrangedrectilinearly of one another parallel to and in vertically spacedrelationship below upper plates 61. The opposite ends of each of theplates 62 lap the adjacent ends of the next adjacent plates 62 and arepivotally mounted at their lapping end portions on a pin 58 adj-acenthead 60. The upper plates 61 and the lower plates 62 are maintained inspaced relationship with the portion 59 of pins 58 projecting aboveplates 61, by a cylindrically-shaped spacer 63 revolubly mounted on eachof the pins 58. Spacer 63 is of such diameter as to project beyond theplates 61 and 62 and to engage opposite sides of a channel in whichendless conveyor loop is guided in its travel as will hereinafter bedescribed. A clip 64 on each of the pins 58 prevents upward longitudinalmovement of plates 61 and 62 and spacer 63 on pins 58.

Opposite legs 45 and 46 of conveyor loop 44 are guided in U-shapedchannels 65 and 66 respectively (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). Channels 65 and 66have opposite sides 67 and 68 which are rotatably engaged by spacers 63and a bottom 69 which is slidably engaged by the head 60 of pins 58.L-shaped mounting members 70 secured to the top of table 20 by rivets 71retain channels 65 and 66 in position in spaced relationship to the topsurface 21 of said table ('FIGS. 3, 4 and 5).

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, dishes to be cleanedare conveyed by the endless conveyor loop 44 on a dishtray 72 into thedishcleaning compartment 29 for cleaning and outwardly thereof aftercompletion of the cleaning operation (normally washing and rinsing). Thedishtray 72 is readily positioned on the conveyor loop 44, is retainedsteady without wobbling or side-to-side movement as it travels with theloop through its path of movement into and out of the dishcleaningcompartment and is easily removable from the conveyor loop 44 after thedishcleaning operation is completed.

The dishtray 72 comprises a rectangular carriage having L-shapedopposite side members 73 and L-shaped opposite end members 74. Eachdishtray 72 has a plurality of casters 75 thereon which engage the uppersurface 21 of the table 20 in freely rotatable relationship therewith.The side members 73 and end members 74 are connected to form arectangular-shaped tray of such size that the side members and endmembers thereof engage the opposite sides and opposite ends respectivelyof a conventional, rectangular-shaped dishrack 76 arranged to hold aplurality of dishes 77. 1

An inverted L-shaped mounting lug 78 (FIGS. 7 and 8) is secured to oneside member 73 of the dishtray 72. The lug 78 comprises an upright leg79 secured by welding or otherwise to side member 73 of the dishtray anda 4. horizontally extending leg 80. The leg 80 has spaced apertures 81and 82 therein which apertures are spaced apart a distance equal to thedistance beween the dishtray mounting pins 58 of the conveyor loop 44.The apertures 81 and 82 are of such diameter as to easily slidablyengage pins 58 and are chamfered at 83 so as to readily be guided ontothe pins. As shown, the horizontally extending leg 89, at the oppositeends thereof, has recesses 84 and 85 therein which recesses are of suchsize and shape as to bear on pins '58. The leg 80 is of such length thatapertures 81 and 82 therein engage next adjacent dishtray mounting pins58 of conveyor loop 44 while recesses 85 and 86 engage the next pins 58which respectively flank said next adjacent pins 58. The upright leg 79projects upwardly such distance that it is in spaced relationship withupper plates 61 of conveyor loop 44 when the casters 75 of dishtray 72are in engagement with the upper surface 21 of table 20 so that theweight of the dishtray 72 is borne by the table and not by the conveyorloop 44 thereby preventing wear on the conveyor loop.

So that the conveyor loop 44 may be retained under the proper tension toremain tight and such tension may be adjustable, a tensioning device 57,shown more particularly in FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12, is provided. Asshown, shaft 56, on which sprocket wheel 54 is mounted, is revolublymounted in upper bearing 87 and lower bearing 88 which bearings arebolted to a slide plate 89. A

guideWay is formed by upper inverted L-shaped guide 96 and lowerL-shaped guide 91 secured in vertically spaced parallel relationship toone another on an upright channel member 92 fixedly mounted on one endthereof to leg 28 of table 21) (FIGS. 1, 9, 10, 11 and 12). Slide plate89 slidably engage the vertically extending legs of guides 90 and 91along one surface of the guides while opposite slide plates 93 and 94slidably engage the opposite surfaces of the vertically extending legs90 and 91. Slide plates 93 and 94 are mounted on slide plate 89 by bolts95. Spacers 96 (FIG. 12) retain the plate 89 and plates 93, 94 in spacedrelationship to one another so that the plates slideably engage thevertically extending legs of guides 90 and 91.

Slide plate 89 has a transverse projection 97 extending toward plates93, -94, vertically intermediate guides 90 and 91. A screw-threaded rod98 parallel to guides 90 and 91 at one end thereof extends throughprojection 97 in sliding relationship thereo. The opposite end of rod 98is screwed into a fitting 99 on channel member 92. Rod 98 extendsthrough a spring 100 one end of which spring bears against projection 97and the other end of which bears against an adjusting nut 101 screwedonto rod 98 and held in position by lock nut 101'.

To tighten endless conveyor loop 44, adjusting nut 101 is turned on thescrew threads of rod 98 to move to the right (FIGS. 1,. 9 and 10). Thistends to compress spring 100 which bears on projection 97 at the endthereof opposite the end on which nut 101 bears. This moves slide plates89, 93 and 94 to the right (FIGS. 1, 9 and 10) on guides 90 and 91which, in turn, since bearings 87 and 88 are attached to plate 89, movesshaft 56 and sprocket 57 mounted thereon to the right (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4and 9). Since shaft 49 with sprocket 47 thereon is mounted againstvertical and longitudinal movement in mounting 53 on table 20 (-FIG. 1),movement of sprocket 54 to the right as hereinabove described serves totighten endless conveyor loop 44 in its relationship to sprocket wheels47 and 54. When the proper setting is attained, nut 101 is turned intoabutting relationship with nut 1(11 locking nut 101 in position so thatthe setting will be retained. Turning of adjusting nut 101 in theopposite direction to that above described would lessen the tension onspring 100 and permit movement of slide plates 89, 93 and 94 to the left(FIGS. 1, 9 and 10) thereby loosening the endless conveyor loop 44 inits relationship to sprocket wheels 47 and 54.

In operation, the tensioning device 57 is adjusted so that the endlessconveyor loop 44 is retained in tight relationship to sprocket wheels 47and 54- under tension of spring 100. Such adjustment is made by turningadjusting nut 1. When such nut is turned on the screw threads of rod 98so as to move to the right (FIGS. 1, 9 and 10), spring M1 is compressedmoving slide plates 89, 93 and 94 to the right. Shaft 56 mounted onslide plate 89, likewise moves to the right (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9)carrying with it sprocket wheel 54. Such movement tightens endlessconveyor loop against sprocket wheels 47 and 54. Turning the adjustmentnut 101 and the adjustment nut 161 in the opposite direction lessens thetension on spring 109. Slide plates 89, 93 and 94 and shaft 56 withsprocket wheel 54 thereon then move to the left (FIGS. 1, 9 and 10)loosening the endless conveyor loop 44 in its relationship to thesprocket wheels.

When the desired adjustment on conveyor loop is completed, as abovedescribed, the loop is placed in motion by actuating switch S (to leftof FIG. 1) to its on position permitting flow of electricity to motor5t? which rotates drive shaft 49 through gear reducer 52 and clutch 51.Shaft 49 turns sprocket wheel in a clockwise direction which drivesendless conveyor loop 44 in a direction from right to left (FIGS. 1 and3). Sprocket wheel 54 and shaft 56 are turned in a clockwise direction.

During travel of endless conveyor loop 44, cylindri cally-shaped spacers63 revolubly mounted on the pins 58, engage the opposite sides s7 and 63of U-shaped channels 65 and 66, so as to guide the travel of loop 4-4and prevent wobbling thereof while the heads 6% of pins 58 slidablyengage the bottom 69 of said channels.

Dishtrays 72 with dishracks 76 therein are conveyed by endless conveyorloop 44 along the surface 21 of table 20, and through dishwashingsection 3-9 and dishrinsing section 31 of dishcleaning compartment 29.Preferably the relative size of the dishrack and dishtray is such that atight engagement between them is maintained so that the dishrack anddishtray are unitary.

Dishes to be cleaned are placed in dish-rack 76. When the dishrack withdishtray 72 thereon is filled with dishes to be cleaned, it is broughtinto such position in relationship with conveyor loop 44 that spacedapertures 81 and 82 on leg 81) of mounting lug 73 on dishtray 72slidably engages the upwardly projecting portion 59 of next adjacentmounting pins 58 of the loop. Usually, an operator lifts the dishrackfilled with dishes to be cleaned, which has the dishtray on the bottomthereof, from a position remote from table to a position above and tothe right of side area 37 of the table (FIG. 2). The dishrack is thenlowered into such position that apertures 81 and 82 on mounting lug 78engage pins 58, as above described, and the casters 75 on the dishtray72 engage the surface 21 of table 21 Because each of the pins 58 haveupwardly projecting portions 59, the dishtray 72 and dishrack 76 areeasily removably attached by an operator to moving conveyor loop 44 aschamfer 59' on pins 58, chamfer S3 in apertures 81 and 82 as well asrecesses 85 and 86 in mounting lug 78, act to guide apertures 81 and 82onto pins 53.

After the dishtray 72 is removably secured to the conveyor loop 44, asabove described, the conveyor moves the dishtray, with the dishrackthereon, from the right (FIG, 2) toward the left along surface 21 ofside area 37 of table Ztl and thence through the end area at the leftend of the table and thence into dishwashing section 36 of dishcleaningcompartment 29.

In dishwashing section the dishes are washed in a conventional manner bysprays of wash-water directed upon them as the conveyor 44 moves thedishtray and dishrack from the left toward the right (FIG. 2) throughsaid section on tracks 15 and 16. Movement of such dishtray and saiddishrack is continued by conveyor loop 44 on tracks 15 and 16 intodishrinsing section 31 wherein the dishes are rinsed in a conventionalmanner by sprays of rinse water directed upon them. After the dishes arerinsed in section 31, continuing travel of conveyor loop 44 moves thedishtray and dishrack outwardly of section 31 and onto the end portionof table 20 at the right, FIG. 2. As the dishtray and dishrack movethrough said end portion and onto side area 37 of the table surface 21,the dishrack is lifted upwardly by an operator, the dishtray movingupwardly therewith. The apertures 81 and 82 disengage pins 58 of theconveyor loop as the dishtray and dishrack are moved upwardly and awayfrom the table 29.

It readily will be understood that while a dishtray and dishrack arebeing conveyed along side area 37 of table Ztl into dishcleaningcompartment 29; other dishtrays and dishracks of dishes to be cleanedare continuously placed in position as above described and by removablysecuring them to conveyor loop 44 along side area 37 of table 2%.Dishracks or" cleaned dishes, likewise, are continuously removed fromtable 2% after passing outwardly of dishrinsing section 31 ofdishcleaning compartment 29.

In its travel as above described, a dishtray 72 is retained steady andagainst a wobbling or side-to-side movement while conveyor loop 44.- hasa free, direct and guided movement through channels 65 and 66, becauseapertures 81 and 82 in mounting lug 78 engage adjacent mounting pins 58while recesses and 86 in mounting lug 73 engage the next adjacent pins58 of conveyor loop 44 which respectively flanks said adjacent mountingpins 53 and cylindrically-shaped spacers revolubly engage the sides 67and 68 of said channels 65 and 66.

Should any drag which interfers with the movement of the loop be placedon conveyor loop 44, for example by an operator in placing or inremoving a dishtray from its relationship to the conveyor loop,slip-clutch 51 becomes operative to stop further rotation of drive shaft4-9 by motor 50 until such drag is removed.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the inventionis not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in theart.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dishwashing machine having a horizontal table with dishwashingapparatus associated with an oblong portion thereof, a horizontalendless conveyor loop movably mounted in relation to said table andadjacent said dishwashing apparatus, means at opposite ends of said loopthrough which the loop is actuated, a dish-carrier horizontallyoffsetfrom the conveyor loop, said conveyor loop comprising a pluralityof adjacent horizontally spaced vertically extending dish-carriermounting pins, a plurality of horizontally extending elongated upperplates arranged in rectilinear relationship to one another, a pluralityof horizontally extending lower plates arranged in rectilinearrelationship to one another, said upper and lower plates being disposedin vertically spaced horizontal planes, the upper plates and the lowerplates being pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite ends thereof onsaid mounting pins, the mounting pins each having a portion thereofprojecting upwardly beyond the upper plate, cylindrically-shaped spacingmeans coaxially and revolubly mounted on the dish-carrier mounting pins,the diameter of said spacing means being greater than the width of saidplates, the opposite ends respectively of said spacing means engagingthe upper and lower plates of the conveyor loop to maintain said upperand lower plates in horizontally spaced relationship to one another, anda U-shaped guideway having spaced oppositely disposed parallel sidespositioned in relationship to said table so that at least a portion ofthe legs of the conveyor loop passes through the guideway, the

aca emr" a oppositely disposed parallel sides being so spaced from oneanother that said cylindrically-shaped spacing means movably engage saidsides of the guideway, the bottoms of said mounting pins being arrangedto engage the bottom of said U-shaped guideway, said dish-carrier havingmounting means laterally extending therefrom to a point beyond thedish-carrier mounting pins, the mounting means having apertures thereinof such size and so spaced apart as to removably engage the upwardlyextending portion of next adjacent dish-carrier mounting pins of theconveyor loop 2. In a dishwashing machine according to claim 1 andincluding parallel guideways disposed in relationship to said table sothat the opposite legs of the conveyor loop pass through the guideways.

3. In a dishwashing machine according to claim 1 wherein saiddish-carrier is rectangularly shaped, said dish-carrier mounting meanscomprising an L-shaped mounting member positioned on one side of saidcarrier, one leg of the mounting member extending in a horizontal planeand having apertures therein of such size and spaced apart such distanceas to removably engage the upwardly extending portion of at least twoadjacent mounting pins.

4. In a dishwashing machine according to claim 1 wherein saiddishwashing apparatus is arranged at one side of said horizontal tableand in spaced relationship with the opposite ends thereof and whereinsaid endless conveyor loop has one leg thereof passing through thedishwashing apparatus and the other leg passing along the opposite sideof said table, said guideway being mounted on both said one side andsaid opposite side of said horizontal table so that both said legs ofthe conveyor loop pass through the guideway.

5. In a dishwashing apparatus according to claim 4 further includingsprocket wheels at opposite ends of said conveyor loop, means fordriving one of said sprocket wheels thereby actuating said conveyorloop, the other sprocket Wheel being mounted in respect to said table soas to have movement longitudinally of the loop, and means for adjustingthe position of said other sprocket wheel longitudinally of the loop.

6. In a dishwashing machine having a horizontal table with dishwashingapparatus associated with a portion thereof, a horizontal endlessconveyor loop movably mounted in relation to said table and adjacentsaid dishwashing apparatus, means at opposite ends of said loop throughwhich the loop is actuated, a dish-carrier horizontally offset from theconveyor loop, said conveyor loop comprising a plurality of adjacenthorizontally spaced vertically extending dish-carrier mounting pins, aplurality of horizontally extending elongated upper plates arranged inrectilinear relationship to one another, a plurality of horizontallyextending lower plates arranged in rectilinear relationship to oneanother, said upper and lower plates being disposed in verti ally spacedhorizontal planes, the upper plates and the lower plates being pivotallymounted adjacent the opposite ends thereof on said mounting pins, themounting pins each having a portion thereof projecting upwardly beyondthe upper plate, cylindrically-shaped spacing means coaxially andrevolubly mounted on the dish-carrier mounting pins, the diameter ofsaid spacing means being greater than the width of said plates, theopposite ends respectively of said spacing means engaging the upper andlower plates of the conveyor loop to maintain said upper and lowerplates in horizontally spaced relationship to one another, and aU-shaped guideway having spaced oppositely disposed parallel sidespositioned in relationship to said table so that at least a portion ofthe legs of the conveyor loop passes through the guideway, theoppositely disposed parallel sides being so spaced from one another thatsaid cylindrically-shaped spacing means movably engage said sides of theguideway, the bottoms of said mounting pins being arranged to engage thebottom of said U-shaped guideway, said dish-carrier having mountingmeans laterally extending therefrom to a point beyond the dish-carriermounting pins, the mounting means having four apertures therein sorectilinearly spaced from one another and of such size and shape as tovertically slidably engage the upwardly extending portion of four nextadjacent dish-carrier mounting pins of the conveyor loop, the endmostapertures being cutout portions from said mounting means whereby saidmounting means is horizontally disengaged from the endinost mountingpins at the curved ends of said conveyor oop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,792,533 Francis Feb. 17, 1931 2,342,468 Hallwood Feb. 22, 19442,649,100 Frech Aug. 18, 1953 2,685,361 Garman et al. Aug. 3, 1954

